The Boat Race 2027 takes place on Sunday 11 April, with races at 3.40pm and 4.40pm, according to The Boat Race. Watching from the towpath is free, which is why so many people line the Thames between Putney and Mortlake. From South Buckinghamshire the river is a straightforward drive, but where you choose to stand decides where you should be dropped, how early you need to leave and how easy it is to get home. This guide works through those choices.
- 2027 races: Sunday 11 April at 3.40pm and 4.40pm. The Women's Boat Race goes first, an hour before the Men's.
- The Championship Course runs 4 miles 374 yards (6.8km) from Putney to just before Chiswick Bridge at Mortlake.
- The west-London riverside is around 55–75 minutes from Gerrards Cross by car, and street parking near the course is scarce on race day.
Why do the race times change every year?
The Boat Race is rowed upstream but timed to start on the incoming flood tide, so the crews get the fastest current. The organisers explain that the Men's race starts an hour and a half before high tide, with the Women's race an hour earlier. Because tides shift, so do the start times, which is why the 2027 races are at 3.40pm and 4.40pm. Plan your journey around those times rather than last year's.
Where is the best place to watch, and where should you be dropped?
The course is long, and each stretch suits a different kind of day. The Boat Race's own guide to the Championship Course picks out several landmarks.
| Spot | What you see | Travel notes |
|---|---|---|
| Putney Embankment | The start, marked by the University Stone just west of Putney Bridge; the coin toss and crews heading out | The busiest area, with a family atmosphere and hospitality guests |
| Bishops Park, Fulham | The early stretch past Craven Cottage on the Middlesex bank | A riverside park close to Putney Bridge |
| Hammersmith Bridge | Where the Surrey bend starts to count; the organisers say 80% of crews ahead here go on to win | Reached from the A4 without crossing the river |
| Chiswick Eyot | A small island where crews often make a decisive move | Watched from the Chiswick bank |
| Barnes Bridge | The last bridge, where the river sweeps towards the finish | A handful of riverside pubs |
| Mortlake finish | The finish just before Chiswick Bridge, near The Ship pub | Best for seeing the winners celebrate |
For a car from Buckinghamshire, the Middlesex (north) bank at Chiswick or Hammersmith is the natural target, since you arrive from the A4 without crossing the river. Putney and Mortlake work too, but mean crossing a bridge in race-day traffic. Tell your driver the landmark you are heading for, and agree a pick-up spot a few streets back from the river where a car can actually stop.
How long does it take to get there from Gerrards Cross?
Around 55–75 minutes, usually via the M40 and A40 or the M4 and A4, depending on the stretch of river you choose and the traffic on the day. The motorway part is predictable. The riverside is not: streets near the course are residential, parking is limited, and on race afternoon they fill with spectators arriving in the same window.
If you want a good spot on the towpath or a table in a riverside pub, aim to arrive well before the first race at 3.40pm. That means leaving South Bucks around lunchtime.
What about the train or tube?
Public transport works well for this event once you are in London, but from South Bucks it takes a while. A Chiltern Railways train into Marylebone is followed by at least one tube change to reach the river at Hammersmith, Putney Bridge or Chiswick. Check TfL for any planned weekend closures before you rely on that route, and expect busy platforms once both races are over.
Why do groups often go by car?
For many people the Boat Race is a social afternoon, often with a riverside pint before and after. Being dropped off means nobody drives home, nobody hunts for a parking space in Fulham or Chiswick, and the group arrives together. A SEAT Alhambra carries up to six, and an eight-seat Ford Tourneo suits a rowing club or a larger family. Our group booking guide covers how to organise pick-ups from several addresses.
How do you plan the trip home?
The Men's race finishes at around 5pm, and most of the crowd leaves the towpath soon afterwards. One way round the crush is to pick a pub or café near your viewing spot and set the pick-up for an hour or so after the finish, when the streets are quieter. A fixed fare agreed in advance means a later collection does not change the price. Read how that works in our guide to fixed-price and metered taxis.
What should you bring to the riverbank?
April by the Thames can be cold and windy, so layers and a waterproof are sensible even on a bright day. Wear shoes suited to a muddy towpath. A charged phone makes it easier to find your driver afterwards, and it is wise to keep valuables to a minimum in the crowds.
More rowing and London events
If the Boat Race gives you a taste for rowing, Henley Royal Regatta follows in the summer: our Henley travel guide explains the trip from the Chilterns. For another spring weekend when London's roads are affected, see our London Marathon road closures guide, and for occasions that call for something smarter, our executive cars.